space shuttle
The Space Shuttle, officially known as the Space Transportation System (STS), was a partially reusable spacecraft operated by NASA from 1981 to 2011. It played a key role in low Earth orbit missions, including satellite deployment, space station servicing, and scientific research. The Shuttle originated from a 1969 plan for a reusable space transportation system, led by U.S. Vice President Spiro Agnew, though only the Shuttle itself was developed after the cancellation of other components, such as the nuclear shuttle.
Space Shuttle consisted of three main components: the Orbiter, the Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs), and the External Tank (ET).
Launch Phase: The Shuttle's launch involved the ignition of the SRBs and the Orbiter’s three main engines, drawing fuel from the External Tank. The SRBs provided the initial thrust, propelling the Shuttle through Earth's atmosphere.
Stage Separation: After about two minutes, the SRBs were jettisoned and parachuted into the ocean for recovery. The main engines continued to burn until they consumed the fuel in the External Tank, which was then also jettisoned.
Orbit Phase: Once in space, the Orbiter's two smaller Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) engines were used for precise adjustments and achieving orbit. The Shuttle could then conduct various missions, including satellite deployment, space station maintenance, and scientific experiments.
Reentry and Landing: To return, the OMS engines were fired to deorbit the spacecraft. The Orbiter reentered the atmosphere, protected by thermal tiles, before gliding unpowered to a runway landing, like an airplane.
The system was reusable, with the Orbiter, SRBs, and various other parts refurbished for future missions, making it a groundbreaking reusable spacecraft design.
"Mechanism and Operation of the Space Shuttle"
The Space Shuttle program was the fourth human spaceflight program carried out by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which accomplished routine transportation for Earth-to-orbit crew and cargo from 1981 to 2011. Its official program name was Space Transportation System (STS), taken from a 1969 plan for a system of reusable spacecraft where it was the only item funded for development, as a proposed nuclear shuttle in the plan was cancelled in 1972. It flew 135 missions and carried 355 astronauts from 16 countries, many on multiple trips.
The Space Shuttle was the first reusable crewed spacecraft, designed to achieve orbit and perform multiple missions, such as carrying large payloads, rotating space station crews, and servicing the Hubble Space Telescope. Though capable of satellite recovery and return to Earth, this feature was seldom used. Originally intended for over 150 launches within a 15-year operational lifespan, delays in the development of the International Space Station prevented the expected peak demand for frequent launches. Each Shuttle was designed for 100 launches or a 10-year operational life.